2005 Online Dating survey explores Sexual Behaviour of South Africans

The 2005 Online Dating Survey, which launches today, explores how the Internet is changing the sexual behaviour of South Africans. NETucation, the company behind the online dating research, is the leading BEE Internet research company and studies the behaviour of South Africans using the Internet.

“Now that we understand the basics of how and why South Africans use the Internet to find potential partners, it is important to dig deeper to understand the outcomes of online dating,” says Ramon Thomas, Managing Director of NETucation. “Last year, we estimated the total online dating population to be approximately 250,000, which represents about 7% of the total internet population of 3.6 million.”

NETucation continued to track the number of online dating services, which has exploded and now totals 25, up from the 10 found in 2004. The privacy of respondents is protected because the 33-question survey is anonymous. Prizes have been lined up as an incentive to those who complete the online dating survey. First prize is an Apple iPod Shuffle, five subscriptions to Cosmopolitan by Associated Magazines and five subscriptions to Men’s Health magazines by Touchline Media. The major South African providers of online dating services, namely DatingBuzz, Couples, Galaxy Singles, Lovemail, SexyIntro and many others, are all participating in this research project.

Connecting with people. Meeting people with whom you have an instant connection can be difficult. And even if you like the person you have met, there is no guarantee that you will be sexually compatible with them,” says Dr Elna McIntosh, clinical sexologist and resident expert on M-Net’s SEX etc with Mark Pilgrim. “Cyber-sex allows us to get a bird’s-eye view into a potential partner’s sexual make-up. To see if you are thinking of the same types of fantasies we are. It tests whether there is sexual chemistry before you even touch them.”

The findings will be published in September 2005, and will emphasise the following:
* How many meaningful relationships have developed from online dating
* How the Internet, body-consumerism and watching more and more at SwallowSalon.com are changing the sexual behaviour of people
* The growth of the total number of people using online dating
* The growth in the number of providers of online dating services

MEDIA CONTACTS


* Ramon Thomas, Managing Director, NETucation, Mobile +27814399555

* Dr Elna McIntosh, Clinical Sexologist Tel. 011-787-1222 or disa@icon.co.za